Zoysiagrass plant ‘TM9’

ABSTRACT

The present cultivar TM9 ( Zoysia matrella  Merr.) advantageously has a growing rate of in terms of plant height less than half as compared with existing cultivars and requires mowing every 20 to 40 days during the summer so as to be maintained in fair condition and allows the amount of fertilizer to be reduced to almost less than half.

Latin name of the genus and species of the plant claimed: The present invention relates to the species Zoysia matrella Merr.

Variety denomination: ‘TM9’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of Invention

The present invention relates to a new and distinct perennial variety of Zoysiagrass asexually reproduced and selected.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct Zoysiagrass cultivar (Zoysia matrella Merr.) named ‘TM9’.

Zoysiagrass is a popular lawn grass which has been widely used as greening turf. The turf thereof, however, should be mown every 7 to 10 days during the summer so as to be maintained in beautiful condition. Since the newly developed TM9 advantageously has a growing rate in terms of plant height less than half as compared with conventional cultivars, moving is required every 20 to 40 days during the summer to maintain fair condition and the amount of fertilizer can be reduced to almost less than half. Therefore, labors and cost necessary for maintenance of the turf as well as clipping from lawn-mowing can be reduced. Furthermore, the cultivar can be readily grown in a place where a lawnmower cannot be conveniently used, such as on a rooftop of a building.

In addition, it is expected that prevalence of TM9 facilitates greening of the rooftop and schoolyard and leads to alleviation of heat island phenomenon and reduction of the amount of CO₂.

For purposes of registration under the “International Convention for the Protection of New Varieties of Plants” (generally known by its French acronym as the UPOV Convention) and noting sections 1612 of the Manual of Patent Examining Procedure, it is proposed that the new variety of Zoysiagrass of the present invention be named ‘TM9’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTIONS OF THE ILLUSTRATIONS

FIG. 1 is a set of photographs comparing spikestems of control cultivars and the present cultivar (TM9) (Left: Emerald; Middle: Winter Field; Right: TM9). Photographed on Jul. 15, 2003 in Hishikamo-gun, Aichi, Japan.

FIG. 2 is a set of photographs comparing leaf blades of control cultivars and the present cultivar (TM9) (Left: Emerald; Middle: Winter Field; Right: TM9). Photographed on Jul. 15, 2003 in Nishikamo-gun, Aichi, Japan.

FIG. 3 is a set of photographs comparing grass shapes of control cultivars and the present cultivar (TM9) (Upper: Emerald; Middle: Winter Field; Lower: TM9). Photographed on Jul. 15, 2003 in Nishikamo-gun, Aichi, Japan.

FIG. 4 is a set of photographs comparing stolons of control cultivars and the present cultivar (TM9) (Upper: Emerald; Middle: Winter Field; Lower: TM9). Photographed on Jul. 15, 2003 in Nishikamo-gun, Aichi, Japan.

FIG. 5 is a set of photographs showing full views of test field for the present cultivar (TM9) (Upper: Individually planted plot; Lower: Densely plated plot). Photographed on Jul. 15, 2003 in Nishikamo-gun, Aichi, Japan.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION OF THE PLANT

-   1. Characteristics of the plant body of the present invention: -   1) Overview: Fifty thousand seeds of conventional Zoysiagrass     cultivars (Zoysia matrella Merr.) were irradiated with soft X-ray     (in the year 2000), 500 individuals exhibiting short plant height as     a pot seedling were selected from the germinated individuals (in the     year 2001), and 100 individuals were selected from among these     seedlings based on their growing properties as a pot seedling. They     were planted in a field and an outdoor cultivation test was     initiated (in the year 2002). The present cultivar was obtained     after completion of cultivation tests in various locations     throughout Japan (completed in the year 2004). Characteristics of     the present cultivar are as follows: creeping plant form; spikestem     of medium-sized thickness and short length; extremely dense stolons     of medium-sized thickness; leaves of very short length, narrow width     and a thick color; a small number of spikelets; moderate initial     growth; moderate plant vigor in spring and fall; medium (not early     nor late) timing in spike-sprouting; spike-sprouting only in spring     with a large number of spikes; medium (not early nor late) timing in     turning green; medium (not early nor late) timing in turning red;     good winter hardiness; good summer tolerance; medium shade     tolerance; medium drought tolerance; medium salinity tolerance;     medium tread pressure resistance. -   2) Comparison with control cultivars (Table 1):

TABLE 1 Present cultivar Item Trait TM9 1 Height Mature plant Short (5.7 cm) height 2 Plant Plant Creeping 3 Stem Thickness of Medium (0.9 mm) spikestem Length of Short (3 cm) spikestem 4 Stolon Density of Extremely dense stolons Thickness of Medium (1.3 mm) stolon 5 Foliage Leaf length Extremely short (3 cm) Leaf width Narrow (1.6 mm) Leaf color 137A green group 6 Spike Spike length Short (13 mm) Spike color 183A grayed purple group Spikelet length Medium (2.4 mm) Spikelet width Medium (1.0 mm) Number of Few (15) spikelet 7 Initial growth Initial growth Medium 8 Plant vigor Plant vigor in Moderate spring Plant vigor in Moderate fall 9 Spike-sprouting Beginning of Medium (not time spike- early nor late) sprouting 10 Spike-sprouting Spike- Spike-sprouting properties sprouting in only in spring spring/fall Number of Many spikes 11 Growing period Timing to turn Medium (not green early nor late) Timing to turn Medium (not red early nor late) 12 Winter hardiness Good/Bad in good winter hardiness 13 Summer Good/Bad in good tolerance summer tolerance 14 Environmental Shade Medium tolerance tolerance Drought Medium tolerance Salinity Medium tolerance 15 Tread pressure Tread pressure Medium resistance resistance Control cultivar Item Trait Emerald Winter Field 1 Height Mature plant High (14.0 cm) High (17.3 cm) height 2 Plant Plant Intermediate Intermediate 3 Stem Thickness of Medium (0.9 Medium (0.9 spikestem mm) mm) Length of Short (3 cm) Short (3 cm) spikestem 4 Stolon Density of Medium to dense Medium to stolons dense Thickness of Fine to Medium Fine to stolon (1.1 mm) Medium (1.0 mm) 5 Foliage Leaf length Short (6 mm) Short to Medium (10 mm) Leaf width Narrow (1.7 mm) Narrow (1.6 mm) Leaf color 144A yellow 144A yellow green group green group 6 Spike Spike length Short (14 mm) Short (12 mm) Spike color 183A grayed 183A grayed purple group purple group Spikelet length Medium Medium (2.5 mm) (2.5 mm) Spikelet width Medium Medium (1.1 mm) (1.1 mm) Number of Few (16) Few (15) spikelet 7 Initial growth Initial growth Medium Medium 8 Plant vigor Plant vigor in Moderate Moderate spring Plant vigor in Good Good fall 9 Spike-sprouting Beginning of Medium (not Medium (not time spike- early nor late) early nor late) sprouting 10 Spike-sprouting Spike- Spike-sprouting Spike-sprouting properties sprouting in only in spring only in spring spring/fall Number of Medium Medium spikes 11 Growing period Timing to turn Medium (not Medium (not green early nor late) early nor late) Timing to turn Medium (not Medium (not red early nor late) early nor late) 12 Winter Good/Bad in good good hardiness winter hardiness 13 Summer Good/Bad in good good tolerance summer tolerance 14 Environmental Shade Medium Medium tolerance tolerance Drought Medium Medium tolerance Salinity Medium Medium tolerance 15 Tread pressure Tread pressure Medium Medium resistance resistance

-   *Notes:     -   -   Type of plant: Lawn.         -   Name of the applied cultivar.—TM9.         -   Inventor.—Kunio Matsui.         -   Address of the assignee.—1 Toyota-cho, Toyota-shi, Aichi,             Japan.         -   Cultivation site.—Nishikamo-gun, Aichi, Japan (Latitude:             N35°08′06″, Longitude: E137°05′59″).         -   Place where characteristics research was             conducted.—Nishikamo-gun, Aichi, Japan (Latitude:             N35°08′06″, Longitude: E137°05′59″).         -   Name of researcher who conducted characteristics             research.—Kunio Matsui.         -   Period when characteristics research was             conducted.—2002-2003.         -   Control cultivar (most approximate cultivar).—Emerald. -   3) Characteristics by which the present cultivar is distinguished     from the control cultivars: -   a) Control cultivars: Emerald. Winter Field. -   b) Distinguishing characteristics: The present cultivar can be     distinguished from Emerald in that the present cultivar has a short     height of 5.7 cm (whereas Emerald has a high height of 14.0 cm); a     creeping plant form (whereas Emerald has an intermediate, i.e.     semi-errect or semi-creeping plant form); extremely dense stolons     (whereas Emerald has a medium to low stolon density); leaves of very     short length of 3 cm (whereas Emerald has short leaves of 6 cm) and     different color of 137A green group (whereas Emerald has 144A yellow     green group) moderate plant vigor in fall (whereas Emerald has a     good plant vigor); and a large number of spikes (whereas Emerald has     a medium number of spikes).

The present cultivar can be distinguished from Winter Field in that the present cultivar has a short height of 5.7 cm (whereas Winter Field has a high height of 17.3 cm); a creeping plant form (whereas Winter Field has an intermediate, i.e., semi-erect or semi-creeping plant form); extremely dense stolons (whereas Winter Field has a medium to low stolon densisity); leaves of very short length of 3 cm, (whereas Winter Field has short leaves of 10 cm) and different color of 137A green group (whereas Emerald has 144A yellow green group); moderate plant vigor in fall (whereas Winter Field has a good plant vigor); and a large number of spikes (whereas Winter Field has a medium number of spikes).

-   4) Other information on the present cultivar:     -   -   Susceptibility to the diseases and insects.—TM9 had not             shown any susceptibility in 20 months from April 2002 in             Japan to the diseases and insects common to the Zoysiagrass             genus.         -   Internode length.—19 mm.         -   Internode diameter.—1.3 mm.         -   Leaf blade pubescence.—Hairs absent on adaxial and abaxial             leaf surface.         -   Leaf ligule hairs.—0.1 mm in length, continuously.         -   Anthers color.—183D grayed purple group.         -   Stigmas color.—8C reverse yellow group.

    -   Average number of floret per raceme.—15.         -   Culm total length including floral area to node below flag             leaf.—3.6 cm.         -   Length of stem of inflorescence.—2.3 cm.         -   Floral area length.—1.3 cm.         -   Matured spikelet color.—161D grayed yellow green group.         -   Stolon color.—60B red purple group and 144D yellow group. -   5) Cultivation conditions for characteristic research experiment of     above 1) to 4):     -   -   a Cultivation site.—Nishikamo-gun, Aichi, Japan (Latitude:             N35°08′06″, Longitude: E137°05′59″).         -   b Cultivation time and period.—20 months from April, 2002.         -   c Cultivation method (Examples.—Cultivation style such as on             bare ground, in a facility, field planting or pot planting,             cultivation scale, etc.).

Pot seedlings reproduced by cutting of rhizomes and stolons and rooting them in soil were raised in greenhouse for two months and fix planted on bare ground in April along with control cultivars in order to perform a characteristic research experiment. Five individuals (triplicates) were fix planted at a density of one seedling per an area of 200 cm×200 cm in an individually planted plot while they were fix planted in triplicates at a density of one seedling per an area of 15 cm×15 cm in a dense plated test plot having an area of 150 cm×150 cm thereby performing a characteristic research experiment.

-   2. Reproduction method: Vegetative propagation; rhizomes, stolons,     tillers and sod. -   3. Conditions of keeping and storage the plant having identifiable     characteristics:     -   -   Place where the plant is maintained and/or             stored.—Nishikamo-gun, Aichi, Japan (Latitude: N35°08′06″,             Longitude: E137°05′59″).         -   Method of maintenance/storage.—Pot planting and ground             planting. -   4. History of cultivating the present cultivar: -   1) Material of new cultivar:     -   -   Mother.—Zoysia matrella Merr. (conventional cultivar             cultivated in Ibaraki, Japan).         -   Father.—         -   Family tree.— -   2) Cultivation site: Nishikamo-gun, Aichi, Japan (Latitude:     N35°08′06″, Longitude: E137°05′59″). -   3) History of cultivating the cultivar: Fifty thousand self-fertile     seeds of conventional Zoysiagrass cultivars (raised in Ibaraki,     Japan) were irradiated with soft X-ray in September, 2000, and     individuals exhibiting short plant height as a pot seedling were     selected from the germinated individuals. The thus selected lines     were reproduced by root separation in May, 2001 and the uniformity     of these vegetative propagated lines were respectively confirmed in     greenhouse by February, 2002. Newly root separated lines were fix     planted in a field in April, 2002. A line exhibiting a short leaf     length and a satisfactory initial growth was selected and the     stability thereof was confirmed to complete the cultivating of the     new cultivar on Nov. 20, 2003. -   5. Main use of the present cultivar: The present cultivar can be     used for ground covering of a park, garden, etc. -   6. Other items in relation to the cultivation of the present     cultivar: -   1) Applicable area: Warm area. -   2) Specific cultivation site in Japan: -   Address (zip code: 470-0201): 1099 Kurozasa-Marune, Miyoshi-cho,     Nishikamo-gun, Aichi, Japan (Latitude: N35°08′06″, Longitude:     E137°05′59″).     -   -   Facility for travel.—Meitetsu Toyoda line (Closest station:             Miyoshigaoka). -   3) Cultivation style: Normal cultivation. Bare ground. -   Seasons suitable for seeding, planting, etc.:     -   -   Other reproduction method.—Vegetative propagation by stolons             from the beginning of April to the beginning of May/year             round. -   Blooming season, harvest season, and any other seasons in     cultivation stage suitable for specifying characteristics of the     present cultivar:     -   -   Blooming season.—From the beginning to the end of May/year             round.         -   Greening season.—From the end of April to the end of             October/year round. -   4) Other items to be mentioned for the cultivation of the present     cultivar: The present cultivar is creeping in plant form and short     in leaf length, which allows weeds readily to grow. Frequent weeding     is therefore required. -   5) Information about the cultivation technique and raising condition     of the present cultivar is available from the below: -   Address (zip code: 470-0201): 1099 Kurozasa-Marune, Miyoshi-cho,     Nishikamo-gun, Aichi, Japan (Latitude: N35°08′06″, Longitude:     E137°05′59″).     -   -   Name.—Kunio Matsui (TEL 81-0561-36-8441). -   7. Other information: When the present cultivar is allowed freely to     grow, the plant height (i.e. the height from the ground to the tip     of the leaf blade) is as about half as that of Emerald. 

1. A new and distinct variety of Zoysia matrella Merr. plant named TM9 illustrated and described in the present invention. 